So far, I’ve spun about half of the green/blue batt (I’m on my second bobbin), and have been drafting the silk cap (2 layers down, 8 to go) in preparation for spinning. I’m still doing the *’pull from the middle’ thing with the silk caps, because finding a cap on the edge is less reliable for me.

I’ll try to remember to get pictures tonight; last night I was too busy spinning to stop and take pictures! I’ve got to remember to take a picture of the “rest” of the batt before I finish spinning it. It’s a lovely blue/green/cyan set of colors. I went all ‘Jackson Pollock’ on the dyed batts, and the colors blended well when I wrapped it up and steamed it.

* Reach into the top of the ‘bell’, pull at the center until you have 2 layers. Versus trying to pry up an edge which may or may not get me a whole layer.

Ben and I decided that we’d make Christmas presents this year. With everyone coming to our house this Christmas (Mom, all 4 of my brothers, and my eldest brother’s wife), it’s kind of a daunting task. What I decided on was hats and mittens for everyone, from a FiberTrends pattern, out of handspun wool and wool/silk.

I bought a 2 lb 9 oz wool batt from Val and Kris at Table Rock Llamas, and 10 silk caps, and started separating the batt into layers. I decided, in my insanity, that I would dye the wool and silk at different stages for one or two of the hats, to make them different. I’ve got 6 “colorways” dyed right now, 6 wool batts and 6 silk caps sitting on the railing, waiting to be spun.

Since I was going to dye the other 4 silk caps after they were spun (2 after spinning, 2 after knitting), I decided to spin them early. A tip for anyone spinning silk caps on the wheel: Pre-draft all of the layers of your silk cap before your first treadle. They spin up really quick (because you can’t really draft them anymore, and you’re just getting the spin into the really long pre-drafted fibers). I worked on 2 caps, and got a small bobbin-full. I plied that with THREE bobbins of the wool batt to get ~190 yd of wool/silk ply. And I had a large piece of the batt left over (from which I got another ~75 yd of 2-ply).

I’m hoping there will be enough wool/silk for the brim (folded up or rolled up) and wool 2-ply for the rest of the hat. And enough colored wool left over for the mitten cuffs (I still have 4 “layers” of the batt that I can dye in complementary colors, or in grey or black if I sho choose) I think I’ll start with the blue-green batt tonight and spin until I’m done with that, then spin its corresponding silk cap maybe tomorrow night and ply.

Yesterday, Brie, Darcie, and I went to Alpacas on the Rocks, in Golden, CO. I was kinda impressed by the sheer number of alpaca ranchers around where we live… Elizabeth, Calhan, Monument… they’re everywhere!

We were met by the “official greeter”, Diomande, ever so graceful a host in his hat and blanket…

And saw alpacas of all colors. From the “cafe latte” pair

To a pair with adorable spots…

To this teddy-bear brown one. Don’t you want to cuddle him?

Some alpacas had their ears up, others had them down…

All of them had that ‘mop top’ look.

Some were more interested in eating. This one was eating the hay at the BACK of the feedbag, where it’s obviously sweeter…

This one was eating the banner for its ranch.

I came home with a fleece from an alpaca named “Burt”. It was his first haircut. I can’t wait to give it a gentle wash and start carding…